Friday, January 25, 2008

William Josiah Helsel made his entrance today at around 7:00 pm MST. The little guy weighed in at 7 lbs 15 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Will is a perfect blend of Shannon and Josiah. Mom and baby are doing just fine. To view the pictures: click twice on any photo, and then click the arrow button. Enjoy.

In a few minutes we (Ellen, Bekah and I) will be leaving for Boise, Idaho to meet our new grandson, William Josiah Helsel. Lord willing, the little guy will be taking his first gulp of air sometime today, and a few seconds later will begin excersising the vocal chords with which he will spend the rest of his life returning praise to his Maker and Redeemer. How wonderful.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Last weekend we conducted our "Covenant Family" conference. On Friday evening Pastor Shade took us on a delightful two-hour romp through the covenants of the Old Testament. The two lectures were potent reminders of the organic unity of God's Word and the wonderful way that God has been progressively revealing Himself and preparing a bride for His Son.On Saturday morning Pastor Shade drew out of Genesis 1-3 some very helpful pictures of, and principles for, covenant husbands, wives and children.On Sunday morning Pastor Shade finished off the weekend with an exposition of 1 Corinthians 13. As usual, God's Word, faithfully exposited, was both convicting and helpful. Thanks Burke!

Friday, January 18, 2008

We are blessed to live a mere 12 miles from the Mission Ridge Ski/Board Resort. This week I was blessed to be able to share the beauty and perfectly manicured slopes of MR with pastor Burke Shade (blessings are always better when shared with someone else.) And thirdly, the Lord provided us with an unusually calm and clear day up on the ski-hill, making it possible for us to see Mt. Rainier, Mt. Stuart and even Glacier Peak from the top of Chair 2. Spectacular!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Pastor Burke Shade and his lovely daughter Joanna are visiting us with us in Wenatchee this week. Burke will be speaking at our "Covenant Family Conference" this weekend, but came early to enjoy some Northwest skiing (they are from the flat-lands of southern Illinois.) The Lord, who loves to give his children "more than we are able to ask or imagine", graced us with 16 inches of fresh-fallen powder from the night before. Cowabunga! We were joined for the day by Derek Carlson whose idea of a warm-up run was the deep powder located on the near vertical slope of a double-black-diamond run. (Me: Hey Derek, umm, is there another way to go down from here?)

Comediean-Activist-Host-Speechwriter Ben Stein has produced a movie about the overt hostility of the scientific community towards anyone within their ranks who dares to challenge Darwinian dogma. If the preview accurately represents the movie's message and ethos (let's face it, we've all been burned on that score), it could be an effective volley against the intolerance of academia. At the very least, the movie looks like it could provide grist for some very interesting, and possibly even fruitful, "water-cooler" conversations.

Friday, January 11, 2008

One of the perennial dangers of leadership is the sin of egotism (a.k.a. "self-importance" or "thinking too highly of one's self.") However, as Charles de Gaulle once noted, "Cemeteries are full of indispensable men." I am thankful to be surrounded by elders/teachers - locally, nationally and internationally - who take their work very seriously, but who do not take themselves too seriously. And to illustrate my point please click here for some pictures from this year's Auburn Avenue Pastors Conference. The teaching was exceptional, and all of it was delivered with appropriate gravity, levity and sincerity, but...well, just take a peek at our presenters.

Friday, January 04, 2008

In Steve Martin's autobiography, Born Standing Up, the comedian-turned-actor gives an insightful account of his dysfunctional relationship with his father, Glenn Martin. The first time Steve ever heard his father say "I love you son" was well past Glenn's eightieth birthday. Shortly before the elder Martin died he told his only son, through tears, that he sorely and deeply regretted not returning the many outpourings of love that he had received over the years.

Steve Martin's account of his father is revealing but respectful, honest but tender. It serves us, the living, with a good reminder to say our "I love yous" now, and to give and receive love today in a way that will leave us without regrets tomorrow. (HT: Derek Hale)

I am a long-time fan of Phil Keaggy. We hosted him for a concert at WSU many years ago and he was the epitome of humility and cheerful service in all of our dealings with him before and after the concert. My friend Doug Wilson likes to remind us that "theology comes out of our fingertips." With that in mind, turn up the volume on your computer a bit, click play below and enjoy a helping of Mr. Keaggy's theology as it comes rushing out of his fingertips. (HT: Derek Hale)

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Good news Leif Enger fans! The author of Peace Like a River will be releasing his follow-up novel, So Brave, Young and Handsome, pretty soon before very long. If you haven't read Enger's first offering, stop whatever you are doing right now, purchase or borrow the book and read it. No, savor it. No, drink in each chapter, page, sentence, word and syllable of this incredibly well-crafted tale of family, heartache, humor, miracles, redemption and peace. Enger's prose is so thick with metaphor that it reads at times like really fine poetry. And for you iPod devotees, Audible.com has Peace Like a River as a downloadable audiobook. (I just downloaded it this morning.) So whattaya waitin' fer?